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Not only have the Irish got the best horses at the minute they also have the best commentators. Today at Leopardstown in the 27 runner hurdle Hanlon named every horse several times, absolutely top class.
We have Cattermole, Thompson and others who spend so much time talking shite and not naming the runners it’s ridiculous.
Not sure if the English commentators can remember the horses names or what but they need re training. Only Ian Bartlett comes close.
Hanlon was superb today, we need him in England as some of his comments are class, like “he’s jumped the last like a bag of spanners” was superb the other day.I thought Hanlon had suffered a stroke midway through one of the races today. Went ‘Roaring Bull’ pitch out of the blue followed by a few seconds of silence…bit of a relief when his voice returned to normal and he carried on as if nothing had happened
I heard that TYT, thought he had choked and croaked it for a couple of secs. Love the commentary though. In fact I like the ‘uniqueness of hearing Irish voices, in Ireland.
Here we have the likes of Fitzgerald contributing to some races and saying blarney, blarney, blarney, or that’s what it sounds like!
The voice I don’t like here is Hoiles. Lovely knowledgable bloke, but too much talking during the race. And at the business end it’s just shouting like he is arguing with the missus!
There has to be better as far as the vocals go!
Not sure he really needed to say the entire race title during one of the handicaps! Unless he had been told to in order to keep Paddy Power happy.
His name is Jerry Hannon.
Yes he does keep telling you the horse’s names but that’s all he ever does, other than threaten to burst a blood vessel at the finish on a regular basis. He struggled to name those that departed from the Leopardstown Chase.
But there you have it, one man’s meat is another man’s poison.
My own preference is for the likes of Darren Owen and Gareth Topham who do a sound job at Northern tracks.
On the other hand we were lumbered with Derek Thompson at Musselburgh on January 3rd and he is poor. Likes the sound of his own voice but struggles with facts…, maybe he should be a politician?
I’ll throw Simon Holts hat in the ring. Always enjoyed his commentary.
I thought Jerry had fallen off his stool or something today. Most amusing
He modelled himself on Dessie Scahill who he more or less took over from. Alas he appears to take speed/acid/amphet before the race. And he ALWAYS lets you know when he’s had a bet, bit like Derek Thompson. It’s a pity Gary O’Brien doesn’t commentate more and present less. The other regular irish commentator is Peter O’Hehir, dull as dyke water, son of Micheál (“there’s a right pile up” 1967) and brother of Tony who worked for RTE and did John Hamner’s bit of the GN after he retired. There’s a former amateur Richard Pugh who just sees it and says it unlike the latter two mentioned.
Here’s a bit of fun to show how much better Dessie was at being Dessie that Jerry is at not being Dessie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY4556W_2Mo
Thommo made Private Eye’s Commentatorballs recently with ‘he’s looking between his legs, he likes what he sees’.
Agree with Robnorth, Hannon’s commentary on the Leopardstown Chase did not impress as he missed several fallers. Possibly someone was whispering information in his ear as a couple got mentioned in a vague manner about a fence later. I can’t fault how he built the finish to a crescendo though after his batteries had been changed.
I have heard Hannon commentaries when he has even managed to miss the favourite falling.
But he always manages to tell us “they have gone past their point of departure.”
I like Gary O’Brien best, not only is he one of the best presenters around but he can be called in to call the races at the drop of a hat (technical difficulties at times has meant he has had to switch from one to the other with no notice) and he does it as well as anyone – with the way its going I am convinced Hanlon will at some point kick the bucket live on air at the business end of a commentary.
For me Mark Johnson is the one that consistently does my head in with his shouty commentary and his pathalogical need to use Americanisms after his stint commentating at Churchill Downs (horses are in the gate……no they are in the damn stalls, final eigth of a mile….no its the final furlong you bell end) Whilst Richard Hoiles is very competent, it did make me smile when he won the ITV job and relegated Johnson to second fiddle.
I guess pretty much every commentator has a part of their own style that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea – Thommo is in a what I guess you would call a ‘class’ of his own and his commentary on Frankel’s racecourse debut Newmarket win is one that will always stick with me.
Don’t like Hannon’s “front to back” followed by more “front to back” and hysterical screaming at the finish. That annoyed me with Scahill too.
Mind you I rather like Thommo’s laid back style!
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"But he always manages to tell us “they have gone past their point of departure.”
Yeah what’s with that? I don’t care where they started. Also “entering the final mile and a half” in a 2 mile race.
I’m with LD73, Gary O’Brien is my favourite Irish commentator.
With regard to Derek Thompson’s commentaries. His commentaries are the same for every race the only things that change are the mames of the horses. You can play “cliche bingo” every time.
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